Our Impact
Results for the future
Our organization focuses on the protection of rainforests. We purchase land and reforest destroyed areas. We educate local communities and support sustainable practices.
138 hectares
We protect, reforest, and monitor biodiversity on 138 hectares of rainforest. For perspective, the area we protect is roughly equivalent to 193 football fields
> 500
Over 500 volunteers have visited and worked with us in the rainforest.
> 21824 t
CO₂e stored in aboveground biomass, equivalent to the annual emissions of roughly 4,700 passenger cars.
Naše cesta k ochraně deštných pralesů
Naše mise začala silným záměrem chránit deštný prales v Ekvádorské Amazonii. Věříme, že každý krok směrem k udržitelnosti má smysl.
2016
Forest.ink, our first charity art event
2018
We began collaborating with Universidad de Azuay
2019
Building commenced on the Bosque Medicinal refugio, we sent the first explorers into the jungle and bought the first parcel of land, the Valle del Colibrí
2020
Our second land purchase, the Jardín de las Rosas
2021
Building commenced on the Bird Watching refugio in the Jardín de las Rosas
2021
Ceremonial opening of our Maloka, a traditional house in the Shuar style
2022
We filmed the documentary, Amazon and Us, produced in collaboration with Czech Television
2023
We launched a new fundraising campaign for an 85 hectare plot, the Valle del Gallo de la Peña
2024
Began the purchase of the first 50 hectares of the Valle del Gallo de la Peña
We protect the rainforest
We preserve the rainforest
We buy threatened land and convert it into a private reservation, expanding the protection of the adjacent municipal reservation, Runahurco.
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We are rejuvenating and reforesting
We are planting a nursery of native trees in deforested land and rejuvenating the soil.
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We monitor and protect biodiversity
We place camera traps throughout the jungle, and built our research station, the Bosque Medicinal Refugio.
Find out moreWe connect local communities, schools, and universities in caring for nature.
We are working to build an active network of people – from children to university students to explorers from around the world – who together protect the planet and cultivate a future rooted in community and respect for nature.
Our station El Refugio, built and managed in collaboration with the local community Tumbes, is a vibrant meeting place – for children, teachers, students, researchers, and local residents.
Our goal is to support an active relationship between children and nature, awakening their interest in ecology through practical experience.
Mauro Calderon, Tumbes
More than 200 students from the Mauro Calderon elementary school in Tumbes have visited El Refugio, where we prepare ecological activities and experiential workshops they would otherwise not have access to. We also visit their school and learn alongside the children – together we created the first recycling comic book, which now serves as a teaching aid, started a school garden, and painted a tree of human virtues.
Collaboration with the Universidad del Azuay
Our collaboration with the Universidad del Azuay has been ongoing for several years. In September 2024, biology and environmental engineering students visited our station to study water quality in local streams. The analysis confirmed high biodiversity and good water conditions – encouraging given the pressure from intensive cattle farming. Community members also participated in the research, sharing their knowledge and helping collect samples.
The Amazon and Me
Documentary in collaboration with Czech Television and Mendel University.
Czech students, scientists, explorers, and volunteers are saving a unique ecosystem in the Ecuadorian rainforest and helping to solve ecological, economic and social problems.
Director: Martin Smékal, Jiří Šlofar.
We cooperate with local communities and farmers
We work closely with local communities because we know that true rainforest protection also means supporting and empowering local people through knowledge and opportunities. Currently, we have three main local partners: Raywana – ecological guayusa production, Native Sacha – sustainable cacao and chocolate production, and Tsunki Chiriap – a cultural center of one of the local Shuar communities.
Raywana guayusa
Guayusa (lat. Ilex guayusa) is a tea plant grown almost exclusively in Ecuador and Peru. Our partner is local producer Raywana, who grows guayusa trees on their own land and helps Shuar families plant and care for guayusa in an ecologically sustainable way. Together with volunteers, we help directly on the farm and work to increase the commercial potential of guayusa. By expanding its availability, we create job opportunities for local people and reduce economic pressure on the rainforest.
Native Sacha cacao
Native Sacha is an award-winning artisan cacao and chocolate brand. On their plantation, cacao trees grow alongside many other fruit trees and plants that not only enrich the flavor of cacao but also support local fauna. Only cacao pods are harvested while other fruit is left for birds, preserving the rich biodiversity of the area. We import this premium cacao and chocolate to Europe, helping develop local business beyond Ecuador's borders.
Shuar culture
The Shuar are one of the most significant indigenous peoples of the Amazon region. We work closely with the Chiriap family and the Tsunki Chiriap cultural center, which aims to preserve the traditions, culture, and language of the tribe. During our rainforest expeditions, we organize trips to this community so that volunteers can experience authentic Shuar culture.
What others have written about us
Brněnští výzkumníci budou mít základnu v ekvádorském pralese
Mendelova univerzita se účastní mezinárodních projektů
Polární vědeckou stanici už máme. Teď budeme mít další v tropech
Čeští vědci začnou působit v Amazonii, cílem je bránit odlesnění
Potetujte se: zachráníte prales!
Boj s odlesňováním Amazonie
Forest.ink: Tetování a umění, které pomáhá pralesům
Pomáhají zachránit pralesy a tvrdí: Pomoci může každý, když sníží konzumaci masa
Čeští výzkumníci budou mít malou základnu v ekvádorském pralese
Česi kupujú pralesy v Amazónii, aby zabránili ich vyrúbaniu…
Potetujte se, zachráníte prales!
Češi zachraňují Amazonský prales. Získali si i místní uzavřené etnikum
Češi zachraňují deštný prales v Ekvádoru
Amazonie je poklad. Asi o ni ale musíme přijít, aby nám to došlo…
Saving the rainforests
Čeští umělci se vydávají na záchranu deštného pralesa…
Tetování zachraňuje prales: Forest.ink
Skupují deštné pralesy, aby zabránili jejich nelegálnímu odlesňování
Vědci začnou působit v Amazonii, cílem je bránit odlesnění
Malíři se spřáhli s tatéry. Chtějí pomoci ekvádorským pralesům
Aukce malířů a tatérů chce pomoci pralesům v Ekvádoru
Čech, který už 8 let žije v ekvádorském pralese: Snažíme se zachránit, co se dá
Brněnští výzkumníci budou mít základnu v ekvádorském pralese
Mendelova univerzita se účastní mezinárodních projektů
Polární vědeckou stanici už máme. Teď budeme mít další v tropech
Čeští vědci začnou působit v Amazonii, cílem je bránit odlesnění
Potetujte se: zachráníte prales!
Boj s odlesňováním Amazonie
Forest.ink: Tetování a umění, které pomáhá pralesům
Pomáhají zachránit pralesy a tvrdí: Pomoci může každý, když sníží konzumaci masa
Čeští výzkumníci budou mít malou základnu v ekvádorském pralese
Česi kupujú pralesy v Amazónii, aby zabránili ich vyrúbaniu…
Potetujte se, zachráníte prales!
Češi zachraňují Amazonský prales. Získali si i místní uzavřené etnikum
Češi zachraňují deštný prales v Ekvádoru
Amazonie je poklad. Asi o ni ale musíme přijít, aby nám to došlo…
Saving the rainforests
Čeští umělci se vydávají na záchranu deštného pralesa…
Tetování zachraňuje prales: Forest.ink
Skupují deštné pralesy, aby zabránili jejich nelegálnímu odlesňování
Vědci začnou působit v Amazonii, cílem je bránit odlesnění
Malíři se spřáhli s tatéry. Chtějí pomoci ekvádorským pralesům
Aukce malířů a tatérů chce pomoci pralesům v Ekvádoru
Čech, který už 8 let žije v ekvádorském pralese: Snažíme se zachránit, co se dá
Where can you meet us next?
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Healing Festival
A community gathering with top facilitators and musicians from the Czech Republic and around the world.
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InLakEch Festival
A transformational music and self-discovery festival
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Phoenix Weekend at Sklenářka
Phoenix Weekend is a short experience with the processes that are part of our three-week stay in the Amazon rainforest.
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Info meeting: Jungle Expedition!
Come learn everything about our jungle expeditions!
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